Breast Reconstruction Surgery
A breast reconstruction is an operation to rebuild a breast. This can be a result of cancer surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy), injury or in a breast that has never developed. The aim is to recreate the original shape and appearance of the breast and match it to the other side. This can be done at the same time as a mastectomy/lumpectomy or some time after the original surgery. As well as reconstructing the problem breast, we would also consider operating on the other breast to ensure that they are as symmetrical as possible.
A breast can be reconstructed using several techniques, depending on your wishes, how much tissue is missing and what spare tissue is available. It may involve more than one operation.
Once the breast is reconstructed a nipple reconstruction is performed, which is tattooed once this has also settled. For more information on each procedure please click on the relevant icon.
I offer the following reconstruction procedures for the breast:
A breast reconstruction is an operation to rebuild a breast. This can be a result of cancer surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy), injury or in an undeveloped breast. The aim is to recreate the original shape and appearance of the breast and match it with the other side.
This can be done simultaneously with a mastectomy/lumpectomy or some time after the original surgery. As well as reconstructing the concerned breast, we would also consider operating on the other breast to ensure optimal symmetry.
This is a simple procedure to recreate a nipple in patients who have no nipple as a result of mastectomy, trauma or congenital absence. Rearranging skin from the surrounding area creates the nipple mound. This is called a local flap. The nipple and surrounding area will be tattooed at a later stage to form the areolar. Thus there are no obvious scars from this technique. If the nipple reconstruction is performed on its own it is a local anaesthetic procedure (you will be awake) but if other work is planned at the same time, it may be done under general anaesthetic (you will be asleep). Tattooing is carried out 3 months after the nipple reconstruction, when the scars have settled.
Once a nipple reconstruction has been performed, the patient usually elects to have the nipple areola tattooed. This is a simple procedure carried out by a trained micropigmentation nurse practitioner. Our nurse has extensive experience in the care of patients who have undergone breast reconstruction.
